What is PMS?

Each month like clockwork, most of women come down with a strange collection of symptoms. Crying spells, mood swings, bloating, headache, fatigue, cramps, and the list goes on. One minute you like to take a bite of chocolate, pizza the next. They snap at their family or bite their friends' head off at the slightest provocation, and then break down to tears because they feel bloated and simply hate the way they look. Most people, especially the male population, are quick to dismiss it as "that time of the month." Women's mood swings had become stereotyped as PMS, an excuse use to justify giving in on their food cravings and acting like a shrew. However, doctors nowadays recognize PMS as a real medical condition with physical and psychological symptoms. PMS or premenstrual syndrome is a set of hormonal changes that generate a variety of both physical and emotional symptoms in women. It usually occurs between 7 to 14 days before actual "period" and then disappears once the menstruation begins. Women may experience PMS during her childbearing years or sometimes even after menopause. Bloating, cramps, fatigue, breast tenderness, and irritability, does this sound familiar? Well you are not alone for studies shows that about 95% of women experience some of over 150 symptoms associated to PMS. The degree of severity varies, some women felt only minor discomfort while for others the symptoms are unbearable enough to interfere with their lives. The symptoms may differ from one person to another and may change from cycle to cycle. Normally, the psychological symptoms of PMS include mood changes like crying spells, depression, anxiety, anger, sadness or irritability. Psychological symptoms may also include some changes in mental functioning such as difficulty in concentrating or remembering as well as changes in sex drive. On the other hand, a wide range of physical symptoms are associated with PMS. Some of the most commonly observed physical symptoms would include fatigue, insomnia, headache, acne, cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, joint or muscle pain. Occasionally, some women experience upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. Women with PMS also tend to give in to their food cravings especially for carbohydrates, chocolate or other sweets. Although real test to diagnose PMS has not yet been created, doctors may conduct tests to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. When the symptoms assent with the monthly cycle and the woman's tests are negative for other conditions, then PMS is generally determined to be the cause of her symptoms. There are several conditions to rule out when considering PMS. That includes anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, perimenopause, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and autoimmune disorders. On the other hand, some of the psychological conditions that should be ruled out include eating disorders, alcohol abuse, personality disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome. Oral contraceptive side effects should also be ruled out when considering PMS. To further confirm doctor's diagnosis, keeping a monthly diary of symptoms would also be helpful. PMS is still considered as a largely mysterious phenomenon by the medical community and had been a subject for research and some ongoing studies. Since there has been no single cause of PMS identified or accepted by the medical community, it is likely that PMS is due to a variety of factors, as well as because of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors like nutrition and stress.